Bags dispenser and bags dispensing method

ABSTRACT

A bags dispenser, including: a first jaws pair, for pressing a bottom of a bag; means for linearly moving the first jaws pair, for dispensing the bag at a closed state thereof; a second jaws pair, for pressing a zone of the bag being above the bottom; stickers, for attaching thereof to each jaw of the second jaws pair, for sticking thereof to the bag, thereby upon the dispensing of the bag at the closed state thereof, opening of the second jaws pair opens the bag, thereby dispensing the bag opened.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/143,119, filed Apr. 5, 2015, the disclosure of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to the field of dispensing bags, such as forgroceries.

BACKGROUND

Conventional bags dispensers typically dispense bags in a closed state.

SUMMARY

The invention provides a solution for opening dispensed bags.

In one aspect, the invention is directed to a bags dispenser, including:

-   -   a first jaws pair, for pressing a bottom of a bag;    -   means for linearly moving the first jaws pair, for dispensing        the bag at a closed state thereof;    -   a second jaws pair, for pressing a zone of the bag being above        the bottom;    -   stickers, for attaching thereof to each jaw of the second jaws        pair, for sticking thereof to the bag,        thereby upon the dispensing of the bag at the closed state        thereof, opening of the second jaws pair opens the bag,        thereby dispensing the bag opened.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments, features, and aspects of the invention are described hereinin conjunction with the following drawings:

FIG. 1 depicts a bags dispenser for dispensing open bags, according toone embodiment of the invention, at the first step.

FIG. 2 depicts the bags dispenser of FIG. 1, at the second step.

FIG. 3 depicts the bags dispenser of FIG. 1, at the third step.

FIG. 4 depicts the bags dispenser of FIG. 1, at the fourth, fifth,sixth, and seventh steps.

FIG. 5 depicts the sticker of FIG. 3, and the cassette thereofdisassembled, and the eighth step of the usage of the bags dispenser ofFIG. 1.

The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will be understood from the following detailed descriptionof embodiments of the invention, which are meant to be descriptive andnot limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features,methods, systems, procedures, components, circuits, and so on, are notdescribed in detail.

The reference numbers have been used to point out elements in theembodiments described and illustrated herein, in order to facilitate theunderstanding of the invention. They are meant to be merelyillustrative, and not limiting. Also, the foregoing embodiments of theinvention have been described and illustrated in conjunction withsystems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative,and not limiting.

FIG. 1 depicts a bags dispenser for dispensing open bags, according toone embodiment of the invention, at the first step.

At the first step, a first jaws pair, enumerated 44, of a bags dispenser10 for dispensing open bags, press the bottom 60 of a bag 14A, such asby a motor 62, for drawing the jaws one to the other, as depicted by thearrow indicating the first step.

FIG. 2 depicts the bags dispenser of FIG. 1, at the second step.

At the second step, jaws pair 44 is linearly moved, as depicted by thearrow indicating the second step, for pulling bag 14A. This may beapplied by a motor 64.

This linear motion disposes the handles 70 of bag 14A adjacent to hooks16.

FIG. 3 depicts the bags dispenser of FIG. 1, at the third step.

At the third step, jaws of a second jaws pair 20 are pressed one towardsthe other, for pressing the top 66 of bag 14A, such as by motors 24.

The end of each of the jaws of jaws pair 20 includes a sticker 42A.

FIG. 4 depicts the bags dispenser of FIG. 1, at the fourth, fifth,sixth, and seventh steps.

At the fourth step, the jaws of jaws pair 20 are drawn away one from theother. Since the end of each jaw of jaws pair 20 includes a differentsticker 42A, the drawing of jaws away from one another, opens bag 14A.The opening step of bag 14A as well opens handles 70 of the bag.

At the fifth step, handles 70 of bag 14A, as being opened, are disposedfor surrounding hooks 16.

At the sixth step, the user may insert items 70, such as goods, into bag14A.

At the seventh step, the user may hold bag 14A by handles 70, and removebag 14A containing items 70, away from bags dispenser 10.

The grabbing by jaws pair 44, and the grabbing of jaws pair 20 bystickers 42A, are weaker than the grabbing of the user providing theremoval of bag 14A from bags dispenser 10. Thus the removal of bag 14Acontaining items 70, separates bag 14A from jaws pair 20 and as wellfrom jaws pair 44.

FIG. 5 depicts the sticker of FIG. 3, and the cassette thereofdisassembled, and the eighth step of the usage of the bags dispenser ofFIG. 1.

At the eighth step, a new sticker, enumerated 42B, is dispensed, forgrabbing the top of bag 14B, indicated in FIG. 4, being originallyconnected to bag 14A. The dispensing may be applied by a cassette 18,containing a roll 40, being rotated by a motor 50.

Thus, in one aspect, the invention is directed to a bags dispenser (10),including:

-   -   a first jaws pair (44), for pressing a bottom (60) of a bag        (14A);    -   means (64) for linearly moving the first jaws pair (44), for        dispensing the bag (14A) at a closed state thereof;    -   a second jaws pair (20), for pressing a zone (66) of the bag        (14A) being above the bottom (60);    -   stickers (42A), for attaching thereof to each jaw of the second        jaws pair (20), for sticking thereof to the bag (14A),        thereby upon the dispensing of the bag (14A) at the closed state        thereof, opening of the second jaws pair (20) opens the bag        (14A), thereby dispensing the bag (14A) opened.

The bags dispenser (10) may further include:

-   -   at least one cassette (28) containing a stickers roll (40), for        supplying the stickers (42A) to the jaws.

The bags dispenser (10) may further include:

-   -   at least one hook (16), for being surrounded by a handle (70) of        the bag (14A) upon being opened,        thereby upon the opening of the bag (14A), the bag is ready for        filling thereof in a hands free manner

The bags dispenser (10) may further include:

-   -   a controller or other control means (72), for operating the        opening of the second jaws pair (20) upon the pressing by the        second jaws pair (20).

In another aspect, the invention is directed to a bags dispensingmethod, including the steps of:

-   -   pressing a bottom (60) of a bag (14A), by a first jaws pair        (44);    -   upon the pressing of the bag bottom (60), linearly moving the        first jaws pair (44), for dispensing the bag (14A) at a closed        state thereof;    -   pressing a zone (66) of the bag (14A) being above the bottom        (60), by a second jaws pair (20) and by stickers (42A) attached        to each jaw of the second jaws pair (20), thereby sticking        thereof to the zone (66) of the bag (14A);    -   upon the pressing of the zone (60) of the bag (14A), opening the        second jaws pair (20), thereby opening the bag (14A),        thereby dispensing the bag (14A) opened.

The method may further include the step of:

-   -   supplying, from a stickers roll (40), the stickers (42A) to the        jaws.

In the figures and/or description herein, the following referencenumerals (Reference Signs List) have been mentioned:

-   -   numeral 10 denotes the bags dispenser, according to one        embodiment of the invention;    -   numeral 12 denotes a compartment containing bags for dispensing;    -   numerals 14A and 14B denote bags, being attached one to the        other, for dispensing one after the other;    -   numeral 16 denotes a hook, for hanging the bag's handle;    -   numeral 18 denotes a cassette, containing a stickers roll;    -   numeral 20 denotes another jaws pair;    -   numeral 24 denotes a hinge and a motor;    -   numeral 40 denotes a stickers roll;    -   numerals 42A and 42B denote stickers;    -   numeral 44 denotes a jaws pair;    -   numeral 46 denotes a rod, from which the jaws pair extend;    -   numeral 48 denotes a track, for moving the jaws pair;    -   numeral 50 denotes a motor;    -   numerals 62 and 64 denote motors;    -   numeral 66 denotes substantially a portion of the bag, for        opening the bag there;    -   numeral 70 denotes the handle of the bag;    -   numeral 72 denotes circuitry or a controller, for scheduling the        operation of the various motors;

The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of theinvention has been presented for the purposes of illustration. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the abovedescription in any form.

Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should tobe interpreted according to this definition.

The reference numbers in the claims are not a part of the claims, butrather used for facilitating the reading thereof. These referencenumbers should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any form.

What is claimed is:
 1. A bags dispenser, comprising: a first jaws pair,for pressing a bottom of a bag; means for linearly moving said firstjaws pair, for dispensing the bag at a closed state thereof; a secondjaws pair, for pressing a zone of the bag being above said bottom;stickers, for attaching thereof to each jaw of said second jaws pair,for sticking thereof to the bag, thereby upon said dispensing of the bagat the closed state thereof, opening of said second jaws pair opens thebag, thereby dispensing the bag opened.
 2. A bags dispenser according toclaim 1, further comprising: at least one cassette containing a stickersroll, for supplying said stickers to said jaws.
 3. A bags dispenseraccording to claim 1, further comprising: at least one hook, for beingsurrounded by a handle of the bag upon being opened, thereby upon saidopening of the bag, the bag is ready for filling thereof in a hands freemanner.
 4. A bags dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising:control means, for operating said opening of said second jaws pair uponsaid pressing by said second jaws pair.
 5. A bags dispensing method,comprising the steps of: pressing a bottom of a bag, by a first jawspair; upon said pressing of the bag bottom, linearly moving said firstjaws pair, for dispensing the bag at a closed state thereof; pressing azone of the bag being above said bottom, by a second jaws pair and bystickers attached to each jaw of said second jaws pair, thereby stickingthereof to said zone of the bag; upon said pressing of the zone of thebag, opening said second jaws pair, thereby opening the bag, therebydispensing the bag opened.
 6. A method according to claim 5, furthercomprising the step of: supplying, from a stickers roll, said stickersto said jaws.